WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
February Edition
Buffalo drafted Owen Power on July 23. ©2021
As expected, defenseman Owen Power will return to Michigan for his sophomore season, according to The Buffalo News.
After the Buffalo Sabres drafted Power first overall July 23, he indicated he was leaning toward going back to school.
The 6-foot-6, 213-pound Power compiled three goals, 16 points and a plus-18 rating in 26 games during a freshman year shortened by COVID-19. When the virus spread throughout the team, Michigan was removed from the NCAA Tournament.... Read the full article
Tim Kennedy (middle) began his career with Buffalo. ©2021, Dan Hickling
Having been late-round draft picks, ex-Buffalo Sabres Tim Kennedy and Nathan Paetsch beat long odds to advance and play in the NHL. They possess a unique understanding of a hockey player’s maturation.
Kennedy and Paetsch will now be sharing their knowledge with Sabres prospects. The team on Tuesday hired them as development coaches.
They join Dan Girardi, Seamus Kotyk and Mike Ansell on Adam Mair’s player development staff. Mair was teammates with Kennedy and ... Read the full article
Casey Fitzgerald was drafted in 2016. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed restricted free agent Casey Fitzgerald to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.5 million in the NHL, the team announced Friday.
Fitzgerald registered two goals, nine points and a minus 10-rating in 22 games with the Rochester Americans last season. The Sabres also recalled the defenseman to their taxi squad.
The 5-foot-11, 178-pound Fitzgerald, 24, has compiled five goals, 22 points and a minus-6 rating in 51 career AHL outings.... Read the full article
Dan Bylsma spent two seasons coaching Buffalo. ©2021, Dan Hickling
Ex-Buffalo Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma on Tuesday landed a new job as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate the expansion Seattle Kraken will temporarily share with the Florida Panthers.
Bylsma, 50, left the Detroit Red Wings in May to pursue other opportunities after spending three years as an assistant on head coach Jeff Blashill’s staff.
As part of the agreement between Seattle and Florida, the Kraken provided an assistant coach ... Read the full article
Mark Pysyk, shown here with Rochester, began his NHL career in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Mark Pysyk said the move shocked him. He had played defense his entire career, and the Florida Panthers suddenly wanted to utilize him as a forward.
But Pysyk had become a spare part in the 2019-20 season under new coach Joel Quenneville. Shifting to wing beat the alternative of remaining a healthy scratch.
So Pysyk embraced the change, often skating on the fourth line while moving back to defense as a penalty killer.
“It was ... Read the full article
New Buffalo goalie Craig Anderson spent 10 seasons in Ottawa. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Fifteen days during the 2005-06 season altered the path of Craig Anderson’s career.
During that uncertain stretch, Anderson pinballed around the NHL, getting plucked off waivers three times. He bounced from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues before returning to Chicago.
The experience taught Anderson, who signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 28, the fleeting nature of an NHL goalie’s career. He learned he was too ... Read the full article
Michael Houser played his first four NHL games last season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans
Goalie Michael Houser, who made his NHL debut late last season and started the Buffalo Sabres’ final four games, will be back in the organization next year.
The Rochester Americans on Thursday announced they’ve agreed to terms with Houser, 28, on a one-year AHL contract.
Houser, who has spent most of his career in the ECHL, became one of the hockey’s feel-good stories last spring, cracking the NHL for the first time in his ... Read the full article
Michael Peca is one of Buffalo’s all-time fan favorites. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
When former Buffalo Sabres captain Michael Peca retired following the 2008-09 season, he said an offer to become an assistant coach quickly materialized.
But having bounced around and played for four teams in five years, Peca knew it was time to step away after 14 seasons and dedicate more time to his family. He couldn’t accept the coaching job.
“The family makes sacrifices and has to do a lot for your career to succeed,” said ... Read the full article
Michael Peca spent five seasons playing in Buffalo ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Rochester Americans have named popular ex-Buffalo Sabres captain Michael Peca, a centerpiece during the team’s 1999 run to the Stanley Cup final, an assistant coach, the AHL affiliate announced today.
Peca, 47, joins ex-Sabres defenseman Mike Weber on Amerks coach Seth Appert’s staff. The 14-year NHL veteran replaces Adam Mair, who was named the Sabres’ director of player development last week.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity in Rochester, being a part ... Read the full article
Jack Eichel is frustrated with the Sabres. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Undergoing artificial disc replacement surgery is the best short- and long-term option to repair the herniated disc in Jack Eichel’s neck, according to a Colorado-based neurosurgeon who has examined the Buffalo Sabres captain.
Dr. Chad Prusmack told the “31 Thoughts” podcast that Eichel, who wants to undergo disc replacement surgery, could play six to 12 weeks after having the procedure.
The Sabres don’t want Eichel to undergo disc replacement surgery, which Prusmack would perform. ... Read the full article